UK study shows greater GHG benefits from biofuels

By Renewable Energy Assoc. | November 02, 2015

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The conclusions of five years of field research in the UK show that the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by the UK’s arable sector are significantly lower than previously thought. The report is positive news for the UK’s renewable fuels industry and for the national effort to meet GHG emissions reductions targets.

Previous estimates have overstated the greenhouse gases emitted from growing arable crops in the UK by about 15 percent. This means that renewable fuels produced from UK feed wheat and sugar beet actually have an even lower carbon footprint compared to fossil diesel and petrol.

The revelations provided by the Minimising Nitrous Oxide (MIN-NO) report are a welcome boost for the UK’s renewable fuels industry and the nation’s arable farmers. The study, published on the website of the AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) after five years of intensive field research, was a collaborative project between 23 organizations, including the Department for Food and Rural Affairs, the Renewable Energy Association (REA), the NFU and AHDB, Vivergo Fuels Ltd.,andBritish Sugar.

30 percent of the renewable liquid transport fuels used in the UK comes from UK feedstocks with an average carbon saving currently of circa 65 percent compared to fossil fuels. The MIN-NO report demonstrates that the actual level of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas emitted from soil, is half the current theoretical value. This means, for example, that UK-produced bioethanol used to fuel petrol cars is even cleaner than current calculations suggest.

Key findings of the report include:

-N2O emissions across UK arable land are almost half the previously predicted IPCC value of 1 percent per unit of nitrogen applied.-Fertiliser abatement measures have reduced the GHG intensity of biofuels products substantially – by 15 percent for wheat ethanol and by 16 percent for oilseed rape biodiesel.-The GHG intensity per tonne of UK wheat is overall 20 percent less than previously estimated.-UK arable produced biofuels are more effective at reducing GHG emissions than was previously thought.

These key findings will impact reporting of GHG emissions by the UK to international authorities.

“This major study proves that our domestically produced renewable fuels have a great GHG reduction benefit. Add to this the valuable high protein animal feed co-products that go back to livestock farmers and you have a fantastic environmental story. We should be proud of our achievements,” said Clare Wenner, head of the REA Sustainable Transport group.